Repeated lysergic acid diethylamide in an animal model of depression: Normalisation of learning behaviour and hippocampal serotonin 5-HT2 signalling
Journal of Psychopharmacology April 30, 2014 T. Buchborn, H. Schröder, V. Höllt et al. 71 citations
Repeated low doses of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) reverse depression-like behavioral deficits in bulbectomised rats, an animal model of depression that responds only to antidepressants. Bulbectomised rats showed marked impairments in active avoidance learning, which were largely reversed by 11 days of LSD treatment (0.13 mg/kg/day). LSD also normalized a specific hippocampal decrease in 5-HT2 receptor signaling, but did not improve behavior in sham-operated rats and instead reduced their hippocampal 5-HT2 signaling. The findings suggest LSD may have antidepressant-like effects through re-balancing hippocampal 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A receptor signaling.